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Blackstone in talks to buy 40% of Israel cyber firm NSO

Mon, Jul 24, 2017 - 7:50 AM

Blackstone Group is in advanced talks to pay US$400 million for 40 per cent of privately held Israeli firm NSO Group, a maker of spyware for mobile devices, Israel's Calcalist business newspaper reported on Sunday.

PHOTO: REUTERS

[TEL AVIV] Blackstone Group is in advanced talks to pay US$400 million for 40 per cent of privately held Israeli firm NSO Group, a maker of spyware for mobile devices, Israel's Calcalist business newspaper reported on Sunday.

Another investor - ClearSky - is expected to join Blackstone in the deal as a secondary buyer for 10 per cent, Calcalist said.

An NSO spokesman said he could not confirm the report.

Blackstone, a New York-based buyout firm, was not immediately available to comment. ClearSky did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Cyber researchers with Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs said last month the Mexican government tried to install Pegasus software on devices belonging to opposition lawmakers as well as private citizens including human rights lawyers and journalists.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has asked the attorney general's office to investigate the allegations about the use of Pegasus. He said he wanted to get to the bottom of the accusations, which he said were false.

UN human rights experts on Wednesday called on the Mexican government to conduct an impartial investigation into allegations of illegal spying.

Calcalist said Francisco Partners could achieve a partial exit via the deal four times bigger than its initial investment.

A month and a half ago, NSO distributed a US$230 million dividend that will not be included in the deal's value, the newspaper reported.

Under the deal, Francisco Partners will own 40 per cent of NSO, Blackstone and ClearSky together will hold 40 per cent, the founders will have 6 per cent each and the company's 500 employees will hold the remaining 8 per cent.